John B. McNair | |
|---|---|
 McNair, pictured in a 1944 newspaper | |
| 23rd Premier of New Brunswick | |
| In office March 13, 1940 – October 7, 1952 | |
| Monarchs | George VI Elizabeth II |
| Lieutenant Governor | William G. Clark David L. MacLaren |
| Preceded by | Allison Dysart |
| Succeeded by | Hugh John Flemming |
| 22nd Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick | |
| In office June 9, 1965 – January 31, 1968 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governors General | Georges Vanier Roland Michener |
| Premier | Louis Robichaud |
| Preceded by | Joseph Leonard O'Brien |
| Succeeded by | Wallace Samuel Bird |
| MLA for York | |
| In office June 27, 1935 – November 20, 1939 | |
| Preceded by | B. H. Dougan |
| Succeeded by | C. Hedley Forbes |
| In office August 28, 1944 – September 22, 1952 | |
| Preceded by | Arthur J. McEvoy |
| Succeeded by | William J. West |
| MLA for Victoria | |
| In office January 24, 1940 – August 28, 1944 Serving with Frederick William Pirie | |
| Preceded by | John W. Niles |
| Succeeded by | Michael F. McCloskey |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John Babbitt McNair November 20, 1889 Andover, New Brunswick, Canada |
| Died | June 14, 1968 (aged 78) Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada |
| Resting place | Fredericton Rural Cemetery |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouses | Mary MacGregor Crocket
(m. 1921; died 1961)Margaret Jones (m. 1963) |
| Children | 3 daughters, 1 son |
| Alma mater | University of New Brunswick Oxford University |
| Profession | Lawyer, Politician, Judge |
John Babbitt McNair CC QC (November 20, 1889 – June 14, 1968) was the 23rd premier of New Brunswick from 1940 to 1952. He worked as a lawyer, politician and judge.
Born in Andover, New Brunswick, he graduated from the University of New Brunswick in 1911 with a B.A. degree. Awarded a Rhodes Scholarship, at Oxford University he earned a B.A. in 1913 and a Bachelor of Civil Law degree in 1914, graduating with first-class honours.
At the onset of World War I he enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force and served on the battlefields of France and Belgium. Captain McNair served again during World War II as a member of the Royal Canadian Artillery Reserves.
John McNair was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick in 1935 New Brunswick general election and served as Attorney-General in the government of Premier Dysart and served as president of the Liberal Party of New Brunswick from 1932 to 1940. He lost his seat in the 1939 election but returned in 1940, succeeding Dysart as leader of the party and premier.
Despite province wide protests, on April 27, 1950 McNair's government implemented a four percent provincial sales tax to help finance the public education system and social services.
McNair served as premier for twelve years until the defeat of his government in 1952 at which time he returned to the practise of law. In 1955 he was named Chief Justice of New Brunswick and became the 22nd Lieutenant Governor of the province in 1965.
In 1967 he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada.